A 24-9 third quarter proved to be the difference as the Wright State women's basketball team defeated Butler 66-53 Friday night at WSU's Nutter Center.

The Raiders jumped out to an early 7-2 lead thanks in part to five points from Richelle van der Keijl, only to see the Bulldogs answer with an 11-2 run, a run that included three three-pointers by Blaire Langlois.  Butler went up 18-13 before Mackenzie Taylor closed out the period with a three to make it a two-point contest.

WSU erased a 30-25 second quarter deficit as Kim Demmings scored five straight points and Symone Denham added a free throw, but the Bulldogs led 33-31 at halftime as Belle Obert hit a three in the final minute.

Butler shot 46 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including seven of 12 from three-point range, while Wright State shot 33 percent overall and were just two of nine from behind the arc.

The Raiders regained the lead at 36-33 in the opening minute of the third quarter on an Antania Hayes layup and a Emily Vogelpohl three and went in front to stay with a later 9-0 burst to make it 46-37 at the 4:58 mark of the period.

The Bulldogs closed the deficit to seven before WSU tallied the final six points of the stanza to go up 55-42 after three.

Wright State hit nine of 16 shots in the third quarter, including three of four three-pointers, while Butler was four of 14 from the field.

The Raiders maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way as they shot 41 percent from the field in the second half while holding the Bulldogs to 28 percent, including one of nine from three-point range.  WSU also led in points in the paint (21-8), second-chance points (13-2) and fast-break points (10-0).

Demmings led WSU with 20 points, 13 in the second half, while Vogelpohl had 14 and Hayes 11.  van der Keijl collected 12 rebounds.

Wright State (7-2) hosts Cincinnati Christian Tuesday at noon as part of Education and Hoops Day.